Comments

Great to see this up here. Dave, it always surprised me when I heard this was your first show. I just I assumed you went back further then that with the Dead. Anything great first show. Both these shows were really good. First North East shows since Jerry came back from the coma. We had second row both nights right between Phil and Bobby so we had great views of Jerry. He looked so happy to playin'. Just smiling and grooving. The most animated I think I've ever seen Jerry. Thanks.....

Good first show! I was there...I caught every show in the Hampton and Worcester runs (Kaiser New Years run was great too!), but only saw the first night in Hartford. The second set was kind of standard, except for the Quinn encore, but it was still good. I always liked this first set though...I think I still have my old audience tape. 2nd night of course had the killer Uncle Johns>Dew...I hope you were at that one too, DL!

Hey man,
Always great to hear the Hartford '87 shows.
We were all excited and relieved that the band came back East
after Garcia got sick the previous Summer.The Birdsong guitar break is full of life here!
Bob Scotch tapes Desolation Row lyrics to Mic stand
(Teleprompter to come into use soon thereafter).
DL, this is at least one time that you and me were in the same room with the lights out...
Merci beaucoup Monsieur Lemieux

was one of the earlier tapes in my collection. I remember really liking the energy and how great it sounded. This tape doesn't sound great to me anymore, although the copy here on the Taper's Section certainly improves things. The releases set the standard for how amazing a show can sound. And what once seemed like a great recording, now seems mediocre compared to the sound quality available in the current environment. It reminds me of an article by Blair Jackson- "Goodbye to my Cassettes."

There are some, certainly not me, who aren't fans of Desolation Row. I get it- perhaps there's too many lyrics, or maybe it was kind of a let down at a show, if you're all fired up hoping for a Minglewood. I never saw one live, so can't really speak to that. When performed well, this song is one of the greatest showcases of Bob's singing ability. 7/2/94 is the reference version for me, thanks to the GD Hour for turning me onto this version. Can't really say if it's the practice of performing it over several years, or Bob was just feeling it that night. I consider this performance to be one of Bob's crowning vocal achievements- perfect.

Was so indelibly marked by many fine performances of the Grateful Dead that there is a memorial to the band in a glass showcase in the lobby listing certain dates printed on what appear to be plates. The equivalent of a musical trophy, I guess. There is no doubt we made an impression there when we passed through.

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